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The town and road map of Southwest Washington will help you locate cities, towns and other attractions.
Cities and Towns of Southwest Washington
Aberdeen
Battle Ground
Camas
Castle Rock
Cathlamet
Centralia
Chehalis
Elma
Ilwaco
Kelso
Long Beach
Longview
Naselle
Oak Park
Oakville
Ocean Shores
Pacific Beach
Raymond
Salkum
Seaview
Skamokawa
South Bend
Vancouver
Washougal
Westport
Woodland
More Washington
ACTIVITIES
Sea Kayaking
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Tours
Tour Operators
Whale Watching
Whitewater Rafting
FOOD AND BEVERAGE
Wine Country
VISITOR INFORMATION
List of Cities and Towns
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Washington Travel Regions and Maps
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Southwest
Washington
Southwest Region
Southwest Washington is Lewis and Clark territory, a land rich in American heritage. It was here that Meriwether Lewis and William Clark concluded their 8,000-mile exploration, arriving at the West Coast in the autumn of 1805. Interpretive markers trace the explorers' last 100 miles to the Pacific Ocean.
Known for fertile estuaries and the Willapa National Wildlife Reserve, Southwest Washington is characterized by small towns and century-old landmarks. Meriwether Lewis's notes refer to this region as the most desirable location for a settlement west of the Rocky Mountains.
The region is also home to the lower end of the dramatic Columbia River Gorge, a protected scenic area known for its delicate ecology. The Columbia River curves through Southwestern Washington before the river ends its 1,200-mile journey at the Pacific Ocean. The vibrant city of Vancouver, Washington's fourth-largest metropolis, overlooks the Columbia, adjacent to Portland, Oregon.
And this region recognizes the accomplishments of yet another discoverer, the merchant explorer Captain Robert Gray, who discovered the Columbia River 13 years before Lewis and Clark's expedition. In the city of Aberdeen, visitors can see a replica of Captain Gray's brig vessel, the Lady Washington.
History buffs can explore this region with a driving tour that traces the last 70 miles of Lewis's and Clark's expedition to the Pacific Coast. The tour begins at the intersection of I-5 and Highway 4 and concludes at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center at Ft. Canby State Park, overlooking the mouth of the Columbia River, where Robert Grey had arrived more than 200 years earlier. Traveling north by car takes the visitor towards Gray's Harbor and the city of Aberdeen, also known as the gateway to the Olympic Peninsula.
VISITOR INFORMATION
Local Media
KUKN 94.5 FM
Country radio for Southwest Washington.
On trips designed by the Nature Conservancy and the Audubon Society, you'll see river otters, osprey, great blue heron, bald eagles, Columbian white-tailed deer and 600 year old Sitka spruce trees.
Grays Harbour Home Page
Website for Tourism Grays Harbour, a guide to local lodging and attractions.
Go Northwest!
Bookstore
Best selection of books on the Northwest.
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Mountain
Bike! Southwest Washington: A Guide to Trails and Adventure by John
Zilly. This book has serious research, sensible organization and a battery
of useful trail maps and directions. What's more, Zilly possesses a flair
for the written word not often found in such practical guides; he steers the
hungry cyclist through a variety of trail conditions and skill levels in
style, highlighting gnarly terrain.
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Historical
Atlas of Washington and Oregon by Derek Hayes. Illustrated with more
than 500 colorful images and maps. Provides a visually rich and textually
engaging history of the states of Oregon and Washington. A valuable
reference through history, this book presents readers with a chronicle of
how these proud states came into their own and how they each look toward the
future.
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Moon
Washington, 8th Edition. by Ericka Chickowski. Award-winning writer and
Washington native Ericka Chickowski provides an insider's view of the Evergreen State, from Seattle's arts, culture,
and snow-capped peaks to the fire and ice of the state's most venerable volcanoes.
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Frommer's Washington State. by Karl Samson. In this detailed and
completely up-to-date guide, you'll find great places to stay in every price range:
sleek Seattle business hotels, romantic coastal inns, historic B&Bs, family-friendly motels, rustic cabins, and more.
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Backroads
& Byways of Washington: Drives, Day Trips & Weekend Excursions by Archie
Satterfield. This book is the shortest route a visitor can take to explore
like a native and the best guide for natives delving more deeply into the
history and magic of their home state. 50 black-and-white photographs.
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Washington
River Maps & Fishing Guide
by Doug Rose. Detailed maps covering over 1200 miles of river. Included for
each river are the best seasons, species, available illustrated fishing
methods, best flies and best gear for individual rivers and species, fly
hatches, knots, launches, parks, number of hookups per year, size of runs,
parks, services, guides.
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Great
Places: Washington: A Recreational Guide to Washington's Public Lands and
Historic Places for Birding, Hiking, Photography, Fishing, Hunting and
Camping
by John Kruse. He explains the geology, animal and plant life, and history
of Washington's most-storied and scenic locales, including the best local
lodging and amenities. Out-of-staters and residents alike will find much of
interest in this full-color guide.
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